NHL and NHLPA Have Reached a Tentative Deal on a New CBA

The NHL and NHLPA reached a tentative agreement on a new CBA just before 5:00 am this morning.

It is not known when the season will start yet. If they go with a 50 game schedule, the season would begin on January 15th. If they go with a 48 game schedule, it would begin on January 19th.

A 48 game schedule would include seven divisional games and two games against remaining conference teams. A 50 game schedule would include five divisional games and three games against the 10 remaining conference teams.

Nick Kypreos tweeted that teams can use the two compliance buyouts over the next two seasons, and can use them at the same time if they want.

- The players’ share of hockey-related revenue will drop from 57 percent to a 50-50 split for all 10 years.

- The league coming off their demand for a $60 million cap in Year 2, meeting the NHLPA’s request to have it at $64.3 million – which was the upper limit from last year’s cap. The salary floor in Year 2 will be $44 million.

- The upper limit on the salary cap in the first year is $60 million, but teams can spend up to $70.2 million. The cap floor will be $44 million.

- The 10-year deal also has an opt-out clause that kicks in after eight years.

- The salary variance on contracts from year to year cannot vary more than 35 per cent and the final year cannot vary more than 50 per cent of the highest year.

- A player contract term limit for free agents will be seven years and eight years for a team signing its own player.

- The draft lottery selection process will change with all 14 teams fully eligible for the first overall pick. The weighting system for each team may remain, but four-spot move restriction will be eliminated.

- Supplemental discipline for players in on-ice incidents will go through NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan first, followed by an appeal process that would go through Bettman. For suspensions of six or more games, a neutral third party will decide if necessary.

- Revenue sharing among teams will spread to $200 million. Additionally, an NHLPA-initiated growth fund of $60 million is included.

- The NHL had hoped to change opening of free agency to July 10, but the players stood firm and it remains July 1 in the new agreement. But with a later ending to the season, free agency for this summer will start at a later date.